CHAPTER - X

EXCHANGE OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED DELEGATION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

10.1 In the continuously and rapidly changing international scenario, the need to project and propagate our national policies, programme and problems in the proper perspective among various countries as well as understanding their view points was being felt for a long time. The parliamentarians of a country play a significant role in determining the policy of the country and strengthening of relations with other countries. More particularly, it is indeed useful and necessary for a democratic and developing country like India, to select some Members of Parliament and distinguished personalities and utilize their services in projecting our policies, programmes, problems and achievements in different fields with their counterparts and other opinion makers in other countries and secure their confidence in favour of India. Undoubtedly, to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the exchange of Government sponsored delegation of Members of Parliament proved to be effective. Therefore, it was decided that three to four delegations consisting of Members of Parliament, under the leadership of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs/Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs be sent abroad and also to invite three to four such delegations from other countries through the Ministry of External Affairs yearly on a regular basis.

10.2 An amount of Rs. 94 lakh in the budget of this Ministry for the year 2001-2002 has been provided for this purpose.

Receiving of Government Sponsored Delegation of MPs from foreign countries

Hungarian Delegation

10.3 Under the programme of exchange of Government sponsored delegations of Members of Parliament and on invitation of this Ministry, a four-member Hungarian Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Istvan Szent Ivanyi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Hungarian Parliament visited India during 25-30 April, 2001. During the course of the visit, the delegation called on Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Information Technology; Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha; Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha; and Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. They also visited National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and had a first hand experience with Information Technology in India. Besides various places of historical interest in Delhi, the delegation also visited Agra and Jaipur.

10.4 The delegates were:

1. Mr. Istvan Szent Ivanyi,

Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of Hungarian Parliament;

2. Mr. Arpad Gogi,

Alliance of Young Democrats - Hungarian Civic Party

3. Mr. Vilmos Szabo,

Vice-Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee of Hungarian Parliament

4. Mr. Viktor Szederkenyi,

Officer in charge of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Office

Romanian Delegation

10.5 On another invitation from this Ministry a four-member Romanian Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Ghiorighi Prisacaru, Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Policy of the Romanian Senate visited India during 26-30 November, 2001. During their stay in Delhi the delegation called on Hon'ble Prime Minister; Vice-President of India; Speaker, Lok Sabha; Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs & Railways; Minister of State for Commerce; and Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. They also visited National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). Besides various places of interest in Delhi, the delegation visited Agra and Fatehpur Sikri also.

10.6 The delegates were:

1. Mr. Ghiorighi Prisacaru,

Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Policy of Romanian Senate

2. Mr. Marko Bela, Senator

3. Mrs. Maria Dobrescu, Senator

4. Mr. Floricel Mocanu, Expert

Visit of Government Sponsored Delegation of MPs to foreign countries.

10.7 The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs arranged a visit of a 17 member Goodwill Delegation of Members of Parliament under the leadership of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore during 18 - 28 May, 2001.

10.8 The delegation consisted of the following:

1. Shri Pramod Mahajan, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology.

2. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas

3. Shri O. Rajagopal, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Railways

Lok Sabha

4. Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP

5. Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, INC

6. Shri Rupchand Pal, CPI(M)

7. Dr. M. Jagannath, TDP

8. Kunwar Akhilesh Singh, Samajwadi Party

9. Shri Anandrao Adsul, Shiv Sena

10. Shri Pyare Lal Sankhwar, BSP

11. Shri Raghunath Jha, Janata Dal (Samata)

12. Dr. (Smt.) V. Saroja, AIADMK

Rajya Sabha

13. Shri Suresh Pachouri, INC

14. Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma, BJP

15. Shri Nilotpal Bose, CPI(M)

16. Shri K.M. Saifullah, TDP

17. Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary, RJD

Secretariat

18. Dr. M. Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

19. Shri D.R. Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

20. Shri Harish Sharma, Additional Private Secretary to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology

10.9 The members of the delegation were nominated after a meeting of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs with Chief Whips of major political parties in both houses of Parliament.

10.10 In Wellington (New Zealand) besides other dignitaries, the delegation met Rt. Hon. Jonathan Hunt, Speaker of New Zealand Parliament. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs made a brief presentation on the main features of the Indian Parliament, its democratic traditions and electoral reforms. Mr. Jonathan also interacted with the delegates about various parliamentary procedures, breach of privileges, committee system and vote of confidence in New Zealand Parliament. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs expressed satisfaction on the bilateral relations with New Zealand especially during the last few years.

10.11 The delegation during their visit to Canberra, Australia met various political leaders of Australia including Hon'ble Ms. Margaret Reid, President of the Australian Senate and Hon'ble Mr. Neil Andrew, Speaker, House of Representatives, Australia. Senator Reid expressed appreciation of what parliamentary democracy means in India. Both the countries have commitment to work towards something worthwhile. Speaker, Neil Andrew made positive comments about Indian democracy and its electoral system and said that both the countries are mutually interested in democratic values being respected around the world. In response, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Information Technology thanked the Australian Parliament for giving them the opportunity for sharing the democratic experience.

10.12. In Sydney, the delegates had a luncheon meeting with Hon'ble Dr. Meredith Burgmann, President of the Legislative Council and Hon'ble Mr. John Murray, Speaker of Parliament of New South Wales. A number of Members of Parliament and MLCs were also present at the luncheon meeting. While expressing gratitude, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs mentioned about the considerable opportunities for further development of trade and economic cooperation as its full potential has not been utilized so far and assured that Government of India and Indian Parliament is fully prepared and ready to provide necessary thrust in this direction.

10.13 In Singapore, the member of the delegation had an interaction with the Clerk of the House of Parliament of Singapore and had a first hand experience on high tech Parliament with modern equipments. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of the Delegation met separately with Hon'ble Mr. Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister of Information Technology and Hon'ble Prime Minister of Singapore Mr. Goh Chok Tong.

Nomination of Members of Parliament on the Government Delegations going abroad.

10.14 Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates/approves the names of Members of Parliament for the delegations being sent abroad by various Ministries. During the year 2001, the following Members of Parliament were recommended/nominated in the delegation noted against each:

1. Shri M.K. Anna Sahib Patil, MP(LS) Indian Delegation to Brazil & USA

2. Shri Lakshmanrao Patil, MP(LS) to study Ethanol-Gasoline blend as

Auto fuel (M/o Petroleum and

Natural Gas)

3. Shri Jagadambi Prasad Yadav, MP (LS) Indian Parliamentary Delegation to

Mexico

4. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, MP (RS) CIMMYT Holland, USA & Mexico

5. Shri Virendra Kumar, MP (LS) Conference on AIDS - Australia

(M/o Health and Family Welfare)

6. Shri Ram Krishna Hegde, MP (RS) Colloquium on India and France

(M/o External Affairs)

7. Shri Rajnath Singh Surya, MP (RS) Delegation to UNESCO - Geneva

8. Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MP (LS)

9. Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, MP (RS ) Delegation to UNESCO General

Conference - Geneva

Meeting with Parliamentary Delegation

10.15 During the period from 1.1.2001 to 31.12.2001 two Parliamentary Delegations from countries abroad, called on Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas and exchanged views on functions of Parliament and other matters of mutual interest. The details of such delegations are as under:

1. 17 August, 2001 A 21-member Parliamentary Delegation led by Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Deputy President of Nigerian Senate.

2. 31 August, 2001 Mr. Paul Willie, Belgian Senator

Visit of Members of Parliament to foreign countries

10.16 22 Members of Parliament (17 Members of Rajya Sabha and 5 Members of Lok Sabha) informed this Ministry about their private/study visits to foreign countries. Necessary assistance, as and when asked, was extended to them through the Ministry of External Affairs and our Missions abroad.

Permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976

10.17 Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, it is incumbent on Members of Parliament, among others going abroad, to obtain prior permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs, where such visits involve acceptance of "foreign hospitality" from a foreign government or organisation. Members are informed about the procedure to be followed in this respect from time to time by this Ministry. All necessary assistance sought for by Members in this regard is also provided.

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